Device for expressing substances from a deformable tube

ABSTRACT

A device for expressing a substance from a deformable tube is disclosed. The device comprises a casing having a base end, a top portion opposite the base end and side wall portions intermediate the base end and the top portion, and a squeezer insertable in the casing. The squeezer comprises two opposing jaws for gripping and expressing a substance from the tube, and the casing has an aperture in the top portion through which a discharge outlet of the tube is extendable. The casing also has apertures in opposing parts of the side wall portions through which the jaws are actuatable. The squeezer has a manual lever element on at least one jaw, with the lever element being attached to the jaw by a fulcrum in an arrangement wherein manual pressure applied to the lever element about the fulcrum causes flexing of the jaw.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved device for expressing asubstance from a deformable tube. The tubes in question are yieldabletubes, which are usually comprised of metal or plastics. The metal orplastics tubes are squeezable. Squeezing of the tube by hand expressesthe substance contained in the tube through a delivery nozzle. This canbe a tricky and messy operation especially when the tube is notcompletely full.

The amount of substance being expressed is not easy to regulate bypressing with fingers, and it is difficult to simultaneously regulatethe amount dispensed and its application to a substrate. Accordinglydispensing devices have been used to overcome these problems. Examplesof deformable tubes include those containing pasty or thixotropicsubstances such as adhesive.

BRIEF DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Many dispensing devices are known for example from UK patent applicationNo. 2,206,567 A and UK patent No. 451,933, French patent applicationNos. 1,170,939, 1,210,659 and 1,170,939, European patent No. 0521200,U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,876,489, 4,213,543, 3,405,843, 2,568,286, 334,638 and4,723,687, Belgian patent application No. 418523. Such devices providevarious methods of expressing a substance from a tube.

A further device of the type described above is disclosed inInternational (PCT) patent publication No. WO 00/00405, which isassigned to the assignee of the present invention and which isincorporated in its entirety by reference herein. This PCT publicationdescribes a device having a casing having a base end, a top portionopposite the base end and side wall portions intermediate the base endand the top portion, a squeezer insertable in the casing, the squeezercomprising two opposing jaws for gripping and expressing a substancefrom the tube, the casing having an aperture in the top portion throughwhich a discharge outlet of the tube is extendable and further havingapertures in opposing parts of the side wall portions through which thejaws are actuatable.

The device disclosed in WO 00/00405 has a squeezer which expresses asubstance from the tube when pressure is suitably applied to the jaws.Notwithstanding the usefulness of such a device it is desirable toprovide an alternative device for expressing a substance from adeformable tube.

In particular it is desirable to provide a device for applying force tothe tube which is capable of expressing the contained substance in amore controlled manner. Furthermore it is desired to provide aconstruction of device which is less expensive to manufacture than thatdisclosed in WO 00/00405.

A variety of nozzles and caps have been utilised in devices such as thepresent invention to facilitate accurate and easy expression ofsubstances from tubes. An example of such nozzle and cap arrangement isdisclosed in PCT Application No. PCT/EP2009/052472, assigned to theassignees of the present invention, and the entire contents of which isexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a device for expressing a substancefrom a deformable tube, the device comprising: a casing having a baseend, a top portion opposite the base end and side wall portionsintermediate the base end and the top portion, a squeezer insertable inthe casing; the squeezer comprising two opposing jaws for gripping andexpressing a substance from the tube, the casing having an aperture inthe top portion through which a discharge outlet of the tube isextendable and further having apertures in opposing parts of the sidewall portions through which the jaws are actuatable, wherein thesqueezer further comprises a manual lever element on at least one jaw,the lever element being attached to the jaw by a fulcrum in anarrangement whereby manual pressure applied to the lever element aboutthe fulcrum causes flexing of the jaw.

This arrangement allows for the jaw to flex in such a way that thesubstance may be expressed from the tube effectively, by ensuring thatpressure, when applied, is applied to the body of the tube withoutunduly constricting substance flow through the end of the tube proximalto its discharge outlet. It will be understood that the jaw itself mayflex by deforming. This is distinct from prior arrangements where theopening and closing action of the jaws may be achieved by providing oneor more of the jaws on a flexible leg. In such arrangements only the legmay flex but the jaw does not. This arrangement is also advantageous inthat less material is used in its construction compared to prior artdevices.

Preferably, the squeezer comprises a manual lever element on each jaw,each lever element being attached to a respective jaw by a fulcrum in anarrangement wherein manual pressure applied to the respective leverelements about each fulcrum causes flexing of the jaws. Flexing bothjaws ensures that the substance in the deformable tube may be expressedeffectively.

Suitably, the flexing of the or each jaw causes progressive opening of amouth formed by the jaws. This ensures that expression of the substanceis not prematurely constricted by the mouth of the jaw closing about thearea of the tube proximal to the discharge outlet. It also allows forpressure to be applied progressively along the tube.

In one embodiment, the or each fulcrum is at a position proximate amouth formed by the jaws. This arrangement is effective in avoiding theaforementioned premature constriction of substance expression.

In a further embodiment, the or each lever element flexes about thefulcrum when manual pressure is applied to the lever element. Thisallows the mouth formed by the jaws to be opened in the desired mannerand with minimum manual pressure and a great degree of control. Theprogressive application of pressure can cause the degree of flexing toincrease and in particular cause the point at which flexing occurs tovary depending on the amount of flexing arising due to variation inapplied pressure.

In particular it is desirable that the manual lever element is notattached (and desirably is spaced apart) from the jaw to which it isattached save for through the fulcrum. Typically the fulcrum will be afixed joint (non-hinged) and the relative movement, such as relativeflexing of the lever element and the jaw is achieved by flexing of thejaw and possibly additionally the lever element.

It is desirable that the squeezer is formed as a unitary piece, forexample constructed of a plastics material. The casing is desirablyformed as a unitary piece, for example constructed of a plasticsmaterial. The entire device is thus easily constructed in two parts, forexample by moulding.

In one embodiment the casing is open at its base end, the squeezer isinsertable into the casing through its open base end, the jaws of thesqueezer are attached at one end to a carrier, and the carrier and thecasing have interengaging formations for retention of the squeezer inthe casing.

This formation provides a very simple construction which is economicalto manufacture and extremely simple to assemble. It allows for ease ofinsertion of the deformable tube into the device through the open baseend, followed by insertion of the squeezer so that the jaws embrace thedeformable tube.

In an embodiment, the device may additionally have an elongate nozzlewhich may be utilised to dispense material from the tube. The nozzle maybe associated with the aperture in said top portion of said casing, saidnozzle having a longitudinal axis, and comprising a base portionpositioned proximal to said casing aperture with an intake end and anopposed shoulder portion, an upper portion extending axially from theshoulder portion to a distal dispensing end, the upper portion having areduced cross section relative to the base portion, an internal conduitrunning from the intake end to the dispensing end, for deliveringproduct from the intake end to the dispensing end, and engagingformations provided on the upper portion capable of inter-engaging withco-operating engaging formations on a cap to removably hold a cap in theclosed position on the nozzle. This ensures that the substance expressedfrom the deformable tube may be applied accurately and effectively viathe nozzle.

In a related embodiment, the device further comprises a cap forassociation with said nozzle, the cap having an elongate cap body with alongitudinal axis, an outside surface and an inside surface, the capbody comprising a first closed end longitudinally spaced from a secondopen end, the second end defining a mouth and connected to the insidesurface, at least one sidewall integrally formed with and depending fromthe closed end to define a housing, the housing for receiving andoverfitting at least a part of the nozzle upper portion; engagingformations provided on the inside surface capable of inter-engaging withco-operating engaging formations on said nozzle to removably hold thecap in the closed position on said nozzle; a plurality of elongate,angularly spaced apart wing portions, each wing portion having an innerpart proximate the longitudinal axis of the cap, an outer part radiallyspaced therefrom, and two exterior opposing faces, each exterior faceforming part of the outside surface of the cap, each exterior facecontiguous with the next so that an exterior face of one wing portiontogether with an exterior face of an adjacent wing portion form onecontinuous surface between adjacent wing portions. This provides for anintuitive means of sealing the nozzle in such a way that it is clearwhen the cap is secure, thereby avoiding damage to the device and/ordeformable tube due to torque applied in the over-tightening of the cap.

In another related embodiment, the cap and nozzle of the device furthercomprise additional, resilient interengaging portions that prevent thecap from being removed from the nozzle in the manner permitted by saidengaging portions without the application of a desired level of force.This further minimises the risk of damage to the device and/ordeformable tube due to torque applied in the over-tightening of the cap,as it may be more apparent to the user as to when the cap is onsecurely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a casing for the device of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a squeezer and carrier which isinsertable in the casing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the squeezer of FIG. 2

FIGS. 4 a-c show a front view of the squeezer of FIGS. 2 & 3, flexingprogressively;

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a device of the invention as it wouldbe assembled for operation including a squeezer, a deformable tube, acasing, a nozzle and a cap.

FIG. 6 a shows the nozzle and cap assembly of FIG. 5 in their assembledconfiguration.

FIG. 6 b shows a perspective view of the cap of FIG. 5 as viewed frombeneath.

FIG. 6 c shows a plan view of the cap of FIG. 5 as viewed from beneath.

FIG. 6 d shows a perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 a shows a perspective view of the upper portion of the casing ofFIG. 5

FIG. 7 b shows a plan view of the nozzle of FIG. 5 as viewed frombeneath

FIG. 7 c shows a perspective view of the nozzle and cap assembly of FIG.5 as viewed from beneath

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the device of the invention will be described in moredetail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 1 shows a hollow casing 1 having an open base end 2, a top portion3 opposite the base end 2 and side wall portions 4 intermediate the baseend and the top portion. The top portion 3 has an aperture 5 throughwhich the discharge outlet 26 of a deformable tube 24 (see FIG. 5) isextendable. The casing 1 forms a sleeve-like or socket/receptor-typearrangement. The casing 1 has a central body portion 6 which is partcylindrical in shape and which extends from the base end 2 to the topportion 3 tapering inwardly close to the top portion 3 to provide arounded head 7. Two slot-type apertures 8 are provided in opposing partsof the side wall portions 4. In its lower region, the casing is extendedoutwardly to form two shoulder portions 9 each respectively on opposingparts of the side wall portions 4 and part defining the apertures 8. Theopen base end 2 is defined by the central body portion 6, and the twoshoulder portions 9 which are angular, so that the central portion 6 andeach shoulder portion 9 define a key-hole type aperture so that the openend 2 has a double key-hole type shape. Ratchet members 10 are providedon the casing 1 at a periphery of the aperture 5 and are arranged forengaging a dispensing nozzle in the manner described below.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a squeezer 11 which is insertable in the casing 1.The squeezer has two opposing jaws 12, 13 which have a supported end 12a, 13 a (proximate the carrier) and a mouth or open end 12 b, 13 b(distal the carrier) and which are held away from each other at themouth 200 but are actuatable towards each other for gripping andexpressing a substance from a deformable tube placed between therespective jaws 12, 13. Each jaw 12, 13 is attached at the supported endto a carrier 14 by resiliently deformable members formed by legs(curved) 15, 16 respectively. Between the point 38 at which each legattaches the carrier 14 and the point 37 at which each leg attaches itscorresponding jaw, the legs 15, 16 diverge from one another and thenconverge again such that they are in closer proximity to one anotherwhere they attach to their respective jaws and where they attach to thecarrier then at any other point along their length. A space 30 isthereby defined between said legs. Situated within the space 30, is atube support 31, which forms a support for the base of the tube to holdit in alignment with the jaws. In the embodiment the support 31 issubstantially V-shaped. The support 31 is attached to and elevated fromthe carrier 14 by a leg 35 in order to ensure that when the base of adeformable tube rests on the support, the majority of the tube body ispositioned between the jaws 12, 13. The jaws 12, 13 and the carrier 14may be formed as one piece and thus moulded as a single piece forexample from plastics. The legs 15, 16 are arranged on the carrier 14 sothat the jaws 12, 13 diverge from the carrier to the free end of thejaws 12, 13, forming a general V-shape arrangement. The V-shapearrangement is particularly suited for receiving a deformable tube inparticular a tube having a substantially flat closed end such as a tubeof the shape of a crimped aluminium tube. Each jaw 12, 13 has a flatgripping or pressing surface 17 for pressing on the sides a deformabletube along the length of the sides of the tube. Each jaw 12, 13 hasfurther fitted thereto a substantially rigid lever member 18 foractuating the jaws 12, 13. The lever member 18 comprises a series ofgrippable ribs 19 which are attached to a spine 32. Each lever member 18is fixedly attached to its corresponding jaw 12, 13 along a fulcrumjoint 33 toward the said open end of each jaw. Accordingly, there existsa free portion 34 of each lever member that is not directly attached tojaws 12, 13. The free portion 34 extends away from the fulcrum joint 33,back along the jaws and toward carrier 14. A space 36 is thereby definedbetween the free portion 34 of each lever member and its correspondingjaw. In the embodiment the space 36 narrows toward the fulcrum joint 33.

The carrier 14 is a plate, which has a profile corresponding in shape tothe open end of the casing 1. The carrier 14 has a stepped surfaceformed by an upper rim 21 and a lower rim 22, the lower rim 22projecting beyond the upper rim 21 about the perimeter of the carrier14. The upper rim 21 forms a snap-fit rim, which snap-fits into anannular recess on the underside of the casing.

In the operating configuration of the device the squeezer 11 is insertedinto the open base end 2 of the casing 1. The jaws 12, 13 pass insidethe shoulder portions 9 and are then exposed through the slot-typeapertures 8. The lever member 18 completes a smooth profile from the topportion 3 to the shoulder portions 9. The casing 1 acts as a socket-typearrangement so that when the squeezer 2 is inserted the upper rim 21fits snugly into the aperture 23 (and engages therein) while theperiphery of the base end 2 abuts the lower rim 22.

FIG. 4 a shows a front view of the squeezer before pressure is appliedto lever members 18. As pressure is initially applied to lever members18 at a point which causes a turning moment about the fulcrum joint 33and in the manner depicted by arrows 40 in FIG. 4 b, force istransferred from lever members 18 via fulcrum joint 33 to jaws 12, 13.As this force is brought to bear on the jaws, legs 15, 16 flex so thatthe jaws 12, 13 converge until surfaces 17 abut the deformable tubepositioned therebetween (the tube has been omitted in FIG. 4 a-4C forconvenience).

If further pressure is applied to free portions 34 of levers 18, asdepicted in FIG. 4 c by arrows 41, jaws 12, 13 do not converge furtherand application of further pressure 41 will result in flexing of each ofthe lever members 18 about the fulcrum joint 33 and causing a turningmoment about the fulcrum and thus the progressive narrowing of spaces36. This arises because of flexing of the jaws 12, 13. As the spaces 36progressively narrow, the mouth defined by the jaws 12, 13 at their saidopen end begins to progressively open. A deformable tube is thus grippedbetween surfaces 17 and the applied pressure 41 as depicted in thisfigure ensures that while force is transferred to the tube in a mannerso as to express the tube contents, flexing of the jaws 12, 13 takesplace also by resilient deformation of the jaws such that the mouthdefined by the jaws progressively opens. This ensures that expression ofthe substance in the tube is not hindered by constriction of the tubeproximal to the mouth defined by the jaws. The point at which the jawsgrip the tube can thus be varied because as the degree of pressureincreases so too does the degree of flexing of the jaws. Pressure alongthe tube can thus be varied by a user allowing a greater degree ofcontrol.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the device as it wouldbe assembled for use. The deformable tube 24 is placed between the jawsof the squeezer 11, and this assembly is inserted through the open end 2of the casing 1. The deformable tube has a discharge outlet 26 which isscrew-threaded. In the assembled configuration the discharge outlet 26extends through aperture 5 in the casing 1. A dispensing nozzle 62 withreciprocal screw-threads 104 on its underside is adapted to screw ontothe screw-threads 52 of nozzle 26 in the operational configuration wherenozzle 26 extends through aperture 5. A cap 61 is also provided.

FIGS. 6 a-d depict a nozzle and cap assembly 60 for use in conjunctionwith the present invention and as depicted in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 b shows acap 61, which forms part of the cap/nozzle assembly 60. The cap 61 isfor overfitting a nozzle 62 of the type depicted in FIG. 6 d. The cap 61has an elongate cap body 63, a first closed end 71 and an at least oneside wall 72 which in the embodiment is a continuous side wall forming acontinuous or endless wall, integrally formed with and depending fromthe closed end 71. The sidewall 72 is in the embodiment one wall thatloops around to join with itself. It may be substantially circular butalso other desired shapes. As shown best in FIG. 6 b, the sidewall 72has an inside surface 73 and an outside surface 74. The sidewall 72forms a housing defined (bounded by) the inside surface 73 of the capbody 63. The sidewall 72 also forms an open end 76 at the base end 78 ofthe cap body 63 with a mouth defined by the continuous nature of thewall 72. The mouth 77 is effectively formed by the terminal face of thewall 72.

The housing 75 is for receiving and overfitting at least a part of anelongate nozzle body of the nozzle 62 as shown in FIG. 6 d. Furthermoreengaging formations in the form of screw threads 64 are provided on thecap and are for inter-engaging with (reciprocal) co-operating engagingformations in the form of screw threads 64 a on the nozzle 62. Theinter-engagement of the inter-engaging formations will, in theembodiment, removably hold the cap 63 in a position partiallyover-fitting the nozzle 62 as shown in FIG. 6 a. At the base end 78 ofthe cap are a plurality of notches 80, which cooperate with a pluralityof cooperating deformable protrusions 81 on the nozzle. When the cap isfitted the protrusions 81 are seated in the notches 80. When the cap isin place on the nozzle, as depicted in FIG. 6 a, this notch/protrusioncooperation prevents unscrewing of the cap in the manner permitted byscrew threads 64, unless sufficient force is applied. Accordingly,unintentional unscrewing of the cap may be often avoided.

With reference to FIG. 6 a, the cap 61 has a plurality of elongatespaced apart wing portions 82. It is desirable that there are at leastthree wing portions, although more or less wing portions may beemployed. Use of three wing portions provides the cap with aparticularly ergonomic profile well suited to manipulation by a user'sthumb, index and middle fingers. Desirably, each wing portion isequiangularly spaced apart from each adjacent wing portion.

Each wing portion 82 is contiguous with the adjacent ones and thereforethe exterior shape (and profile) of the cap is defined entirely by thecontiguous shape created by the wing portions. While it will beappreciated that different shapes of cap can be provided by employingdifferent numbers and shapes of wing portions, the contiguous nature ofthe wing portions forming the cap should not be lost.

The wing portions 82 are given a part helical, a skewed or twistedappearance. The wing portions 82 are profiled in this way to give avisual indication to a user of the direction of twisting for removal ofthe cap.

In addition, the concave surfaces of the cap are helically skewed in thedirection required to twist the cap to remove the cap from the nozzle.Normally, to remove a cylindrical cap from a cylindrical nozzle, a userwill grip the cap with the thumb and fingers. With standard cylindricalor conical shaped caps, or even caps with lobes or ridges setperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cap, the user must exertforces in two directions simultaneously; the first force is a grippingforce in the direction from the exterior of the cap towards the centreof the cap. The second force is a twisting, circular force, in thedirection required to remove the cap from the nozzle. In circumstanceswhere the cap is closed tightly on the nozzle, for example, by beingadditionally bonded by excess or spilled adhesive, the user must exert avery strong gripping force with fingers and thumb and exert the twistingforce by means of additional arm and wrist motion. This can proveuncomfortable for the user, and can require a combination of strengthand dexterity beyond some users.

The present invention overcomes or ameliorates to an extent thesedrawbacks by means of a cap for reversibly closing over a nozzlecomprising at least three wing portions helically pitched in thedirection required to remove the cap from the nozzle. Preferably, thecap comprises helically pitched (skewed) concave surfaces between thewing portions. The advantage of this is that when a user's thumb, indexand middle fingers engage with the concave surfaces in a gripping actionthe helical pitch (twist) naturally biases the gripping force generatedby the user in the direction required to remove (unscrew) the cap fromthe nozzle.

In addition, the helically pitched concave surfaces provides greatercomfort than would non-concave surface when the user generates atwisting force to remove the cap from the nozzle with fingers and thumb.

FIG. 7 a is a close-up perspective view of the top of the casing asshown in FIG. 5. As best seen in FIG. 7 a, ratchet members 10 areprovided on the periphery of the aperture 5 for engaging a dispensingnozzle in the manner described below. In this embodiment, each ratchetmember 10 comprises a resilient arm 101 and a ratchet member face 105which together form a pawl, and a supporting resilient strut 102. Thisarrangement is designed to cooperate with the underside of a nozzle 62possessing ratchet teeth 103, each having a ratchet tooth face 106, asdepicted in FIGS. 7 b and 7 c. When torque is applied to the nozzle inthe direction consistent with the torque required to screw a cap ontothe nozzle, the ratchet members 10 and ratchet teeth 103 resilientlydeform and do not resist this force to any substantial extent. Rather,the ratchet teeth 103 slide over the ratchet members 10, depressing theresilient arms 101 as they go. The face 101 of each arm 101 does howeverthen spring back to engage with respective teeth 103. Thus applicationof torque to the nozzle in the opposite direction, as would be done whenunscrewing a cap from the nozzle, results in the locking of the nozzlein place. In this way, it is ensured that any attempt to unscrew the capfrom the nozzle does not instead unscrew the cap and nozzle togetherfrom the deformable tube housed in the casing.

The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” whenused herein with reference to the present invention are used to specifythe presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but doesnot preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable sub-combination.

1. A device for expressing a substance from a deformable tube (24), thedevice comprising: a casing (1) having a base end (2), a top portion (3)opposite the base end and side wall portions (4) intermediate the baseend and the top portion, a squeezer (11) insertable in the casing (1);the squeezer comprising two opposing jaws (12, 13) for gripping andexpressing a substance from the tube (24), the casing (1) having anaperture (5) in the top portion (3) through which a discharge outlet(26) of the tube is extendable and further having apertures (8) inopposing parts of the side wall portions through which the jaws (12, 13)are actuatable, characterised in that: the squeezer further comprises amanual lever element on at least one jaw, the lever element beingattached to the jaw by a fulcrum in an arrangement wherein manualpressure applied to the lever element about the fulcrum causes flexingof the jaw.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the squeezercomprises a manual lever element on each jaw, each lever element beingattached to a respective jaw by a fulcrum in an arrangement whereinmanual pressure applied to the respective lever elements about eachfulcrum causes flexing of the jaws.
 3. A device according to anypreceding claim wherein flexing of the or each jaw causes progressiveopening of a mouth formed by the jaws.
 4. A device according to anypreceding claim wherein the or each fulcrum is proximate a mouth formedby the jaws.
 5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the oreach lever element flexes about the fulcrum when manual pressure isapplied to the lever element.
 6. A device according to any precedingclaim wherein the casing (1) is open at its base end, the squeezer (11)is insertable into the casing through its open base end, the jaws of thesqueezer are attached at one end to a carrier (14), and the carrier andthe casing have interengaging formations for retention of the squeezerin the casing.
 7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein saidcasing has an elongated nozzle associated with the aperture in said topportion of said casing, said nozzle having a longitudinal axis andcomprising: a base portion positioned proximal to said casing aperturewith an intake end and an opposed shoulder portion; an upper portionextending axially from the shoulder portion to a distal dispensing end,the upper portion having a reduced cross section relative to the baseportion; an internal conduit running from the intake end to thedispensing end, for delivering product from the intake end to thedispensing end; engaging formations provided on the upper portioncapable of inter-engaging with co-operating engaging formations on a capto removably hold a cap in the closed position on the nozzle.
 8. Adevice according to claim 7 further comprising a cap for associationwith said nozzle, the cap having an elongate cap body with alongitudinal axis, an outside surface and an inside surface, the capbody comprising: a first closed end longitudinally spaced from a secondopen end, the second end defining a mouth and connected to the insidesurface; at least one sidewall integrally formed with and depending fromthe closed end to define a housing, the housing for receiving andoverfitting at least a part of the nozzle upper portion; engagingformations provided on the inside surface capable of inter-engaging withco-operating engaging formations on said nozzle to removably hold thecap in the closed position on said nozzle; a plurality of elongate,angularly spaced apart wing portions, each wing portion having an innerpart proximate the longitudinal axis of the cap, an outer part radiallyspaced therefrom, and two exterior opposing faces, each exterior faceforming part of the outside surface of the cap, each exterior facecontiguous with the next so that an exterior face of one wing portiontogether with an exterior face of an adjacent wing portion form onecontinuous surface between adjacent wing portions.
 9. A device accordingto claim 8 wherein the cap and nozzle have additional, resilientinterengaging portions that prevent the cap from being removed from thenozzle in the manner permitted by said engaging portions without theapplication of a desired level of force.